Shloka 36

युधिष्ठिरस्य धनंजय-प्रति गर्हा

Yudhiṣṭhira’s Reproach to Dhanaṃjaya

Devanagari script

वाराहकर्णनाराचै्नलीकैर्निशितै: शरै: । वत्सदन्तैविपादैश्न क्षुरप्रैश्चटकामुखै:,पांचालवीर जनमेजयने रथ, हाथी और घुड़सवारोंकी सेना साथ लेकर सब ओरसे कर्णपर धावा किया और उसे मार डालनेकी इच्छासे घेरकर बाण, वाराहकर्ण, नाराच, नालीक, पैने बाण, वत्सदन्त, विपाठ, क्षुरप्र, चटकामुख तथा नाना प्रकारके भयंकर अस्त्र- शस्त्रोंद्वारा चोट पहुँचाना आरम्भ किया

Transliteration

sañjaya uvāca |

vārāhakarṇanārācair nālīkair niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ |

vatsadantair vipādaiś ca kṣurapraiś ca caṭakāmukhaiḥ ||

Translation

Sañjaya sprach: Da stürmten die pãñcālischen Krieger, indem sie Streitwagen, Elefanten und Reiter voranführten, von allen Seiten auf Karṇa ein. In der Absicht, ihn zu töten, schlossen sie ihn ein und begannen ihn mit Pfeilsalven zu treffen — „Eberohren“, nārācas, nālīkas, scharfkantige Geschosse, vatsadantas, vipādas, kṣurapras und caṭakāmukhas — und mit anderem grimmigen Gerät, sodass die Schlacht zu einer unerbittlichen Prüfung von Entschlossenheit und Kriegerpflicht wurde.

Word by Word

वाराहकर्णwith boar-ear–shaped arrows (varāhakarṇa missiles)

नाराचैःwith nārāca arrows (iron-pointed shafts)

नालीकैःwith nālīka arrows

निशितैःwith sharpened

शरैःwith arrows

वत्सदन्तैःwith vatsa-danta arrows (calf-tooth–like)

विपाठैःwith vipāṭha missiles/arrows

क्षुरप्रैःwith kṣurapra arrows (razor-headed)

चटकामुखैःwith caṭakāmukha arrows (sparrow-beak–shaped)

Speaker

संजय उवाच

Characters & Entities

Sañjaya

Karṇa

Pāñcāla warriors

chariots

elephants

horsemen

arrows (vārāhakarṇa, nārāca, nālīka, vatsadanta, vipāda, kṣurapra, caṭakāmukha)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse foregrounds the harsh reality of kṣatriya-dharma: warriors are bound to confront danger and opposition without retreat. Ethically, it highlights how duty in war can demand steadfastness even amid overwhelming violence, while also reminding the reader that martial excellence and resolve are continually tested by collective effort and strategy.

What is happening in the narrative?

Sañjaya describes the Pāñcāla forces attacking Karṇa from all sides with combined arms—chariots, elephants, and cavalry—then showering him with many specialized arrow types, attempting to encircle and kill him in the thick of battle.